MUFINDI District dwellers are enjoying fine weather as conservation activities that are supported by the Eastern Arc Mountains Endowment Fund (EAMCEF) gather pace.
Mufindi District Natural Resources and Environment Conservation Committee Head, Mr Jeswald Ubisimbali, said recently that EAMCEF projects are carried out at Kipanga, Ihimbo, Uhafiwa and Ukami villages.
He noted activities taking place include tree planting, bee keeping and that the Trust Fund also foot the costs of different activities.
“We really appreciate what EAMCEF does to villagers who live near the forests, it issues money so that we buy seeds, watering cans, make or buy beehives. As a result, people are engaged in economic activities and no longer enter the forests for firewood,” he said.
Mr Ubisimbali noted that villagers enjoy fruits from trees they have been planting and also, they safeguard their health by using honey, but also they sell some of it to get empowered economically.
The officer said all those efforts are in line to conservation of Udzungwa forest, adding that the efforts are done individually, in groups the villagers form and institutions, all of which are supported by EAMCEF.
He noted that the project was initiated in 2006 with 4m/-, but as years go on the amount keeps going up. He said there was a fire outbreaks challenge, but they have since teamed up with EAMCEF to address the challenge and the efforts are paying off handsomely.
They are also raising awareness on sustainable land use, setting up different areas for conservation, agriculture and cattle keeping, as a means to avert land conflicts and conserve the environment.
“We get good weather; we enjoy it as citizens have been made aware of what they have to do; they have planted many trees and now no longer go to the forest to fetch firewood. Our forests are safe. In their own farms, citizens have planted trees on more than 40 acres. It is water from here that will fill Julius Nyerere Hydropower Plant,” he said.
One of beneficiaries of tree planting and beekeeping projects, Mr David Mkumba said that they formed a group called Kiwavikai, with eight men among the members. They initiated the project with EAMCEF’s support for several reasons, one being their economic well-being.
Mr Mkumba revealed that with 28 modern beehives from 2011 they were now getting an average of 100 litres of honey per season, selling part of it and keeping some for their own use, as it is both food and medication to different illnesses.
Another member, Ms Amina Mpunjae, said the project has greatly helped conserve the forest that is an important source of rain and water.
Ms Zaituni Lukila thanked EAMCEF for the support, adding that more people want to join them.
EAMCEF’s Projects Coordinator for Southern Zone, Ms Rosemary Boniface said the Endowment Fund invests heavily in different projects in villages near the forests, institutions such as schools, so as to make sure the environment is conserved.
Generally, in planting trees, she said, villagers can also keep bees and get honey as well as other products for eating, and have their health improved.
There is also the business component that earns families more income to cater for different costs, such as constructing and refurbishing residential houses, washrooms and improving pass rates.
